BOSTON – The Massachusetts House and Senate passed a compromise $40.2 billion state budget late last week amid reductions in the commonwealth’s projected revenues for Fiscal Year 2018.
The budget trims spending about $400-$500 million and takes other steps to account for a $733 million reduction in anticipated tax revenues for the fiscal year that began July 1. Senate budget officials say the plan projects tax revenues to grow at just 1.4 percent, down from the previous estimate of 3.9 percent.
The spending plan cleared the State House with ease, passing in the House on a 140-9 vote and the Senate backed the same budget by a 36-2 vote.
The budget increases spending on schools and local aid, and continues to fund a number of local initiatives championed by members the Cape and Islands State House delegation.
Cape and Islands State Senator Julian Cyr
“The local organizations that will receive funds provide vital services to the residents of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket,” said Cape and Islands freshman State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro), “I am encouraged that even when there is uncertainty on projected tax revenues, we are able to support these essential programs.”
In a release touting the agreement Cyr highlighted the inclusion of half a billion dollars in local aid and another $1.25 million to fund statewide programs supporting small business development and at-risk youth programs.
Locally, $140,000 will go to Cape and Islands Child Advocacy Center, Children’s Cove for their efforts providing child abuse intervention.
The Housing Assistance Corporation will see $85,000 to hire a caseworker to work specifically to aid people of Martha’s Vineyard facing homelessness or housing instability.
$100,000 in state funds will be used to help residents of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard travel off island for medical services. Another $25,000 will go to Sight Loss Services, Inc. to serve Cape Codders gradually losing their eyesight.
Another $50,000 fund the Community Development Partnership’s efforts to advance public participation in developing affordable and middle-income housing.
$100,000 is heading to the Barnstable County Fire Training Academy to cover urgent capital expenses.
Despite the initiatives set to receive financing, Cyr said the he thinks the House and Senate should have done more to raise revenues and ensure that more projects were granted more funding.
“Unfortunately, the Conference Committee Report did not include commonsense revenue proposals, a review of corporate tax breaks, or a sustainable funding stream for the highly successful Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund,” he said, “All were included in the final Senate budget, and it is a lost opportunity for us not to have included these initiatives in the final FY18 budget.”
State Rep. Will Crocker
State Representative Will Crocker (R-Barnstable) was eager to draw attention to the budget’s continued commitment to education on Cape Cod noting that it will provide Barnstable with more than $10 million
in Chapter 70 education aid and over $2.1 million in unrestricted state aid, along with Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School receiving $7,095,664 and Cape Cod Regional Technical High School receiving $2,149,167 in unrestricted state aid in Fiscal Year 2018.
He says that the $15 million for Early Childhood Development funding in this year’s plan represents an increase of $4.1 million dollars over last year.
“The Fiscal Year 2018 budget provides critical funding to our cities and towns for local schools and other essential municipal services,” said Crocker, “I’m proud to support these funding increases on behalf of the residents of Barnstable.”
In a release sent by Crocker, he explained that in order to address this year’s projected revenue shortfall, the conference committee reduced MassHealth spending by $150 million while cutting another $250 million in other areas of the budget.
The conference committee was also able to identify $205 million in anticipated department efficiencies and reversions, along with $50 million in non-tax revenue savings.
The 4th Barnstable District’s State Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown) also highlighted a several of the budgetary impacts on the Cape and Islands.
Peake calls the agreement “A commitment to fiscal responsibility,” Adding, “The spending bill protects vulnerable residents through investments in early education and care (EEC), substance addiction initiatives, homelessness programs, and funding to help individuals with developmental disabilities.”
State Rep. Sarah Peake
Specifically Peake offered praise for the budget’s $100,000 commitment to the Homeless Prevention Council to help individuals and families on the Lower Cape at risk of losing their homes. Another $200,000 will go to support 11 Massachusetts Visitor Information Centers across the state.
$30,000 will go toward addressing continuing summer traffic safety issues on Route 6 between the Orleans Rotary and Provincetown. The funding will allow police departments in Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, and Eastham to deploy additional traffic officers to reduce aggressive driving, texting, and operating under the influence.
Another $100,000 will be spent to develop a Beach Access Conservation Plan to allow for increased beach access from the Cape to the North Shore while also ensuring the protection of nesting shore birds.
$750,000 will go to Community Mediations Centers, another $750,000 for a Small Business Technical Assistance Grant Program, and more than $80.4 million to the state’s Regional Transit Authorities.
Massachusetts is among the last states to have a fiscal 2018 budget in place. Republican Governor Charlie Baker will have 10 days to issue any line-item vetoes.
By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
